To Whom It May Concern: Old School

To Anyone Who Attended Middle School in the Early 90's:

So once upon a time, we were eighth graders. Oh what turmoil!  What bliss!  While this complicated age came with a plethora of frustration, there were the inevitable benefits.  One such benefit was upgrading to the Middle School Cafeteria (complete with Slush Puppies).  Another was Middle School Dances.


We lived and died for dances.


I'm not completely sure why.  It was such an awkward thing. A dimly lit gymnasium.  Littered with teachers who didn't want to be there chaperoning.  Girls hanging out on one side, boys on another. Each gyrating to the fast songs (including, but not limited to Ace of Base, Alanis Morissette, Notorious BIG, Hootie and the Blowfish and Sponge),  seemingly unaware of the other.  Each secretly hoping for a chance at the opportunity to be in close proximity of the other.


And then. AND THEN.  A slow jam comes on.


Slow.


Jam.


Your chance. Possibly only chance. At love! At a future! At a fairytale ending! Or so our dramatic hormonal middle school minds told us.


We lived and died for slow jams.


So imagine the rush of emotions that accosted me today when this song came on the radio:











Someone hold me.


No really. 


Hold me.




(And to those wondering, I cannot confirm or deny having owned several Boyz II Men albums. Or still having those albums in my possession. Or listening to said albums on a regular basis).












LYLAS,